California man survives heart failure to go on to set five aviation records, write two books and paint over 100 paintings. His message: Don't give up on your dreams.

Michael Combs and his son made a stop of Chandler Municipal Airport Thursday morning to refuel on their way to Texas, then on to South Carolina. No light sport aircraft has ever flown cross-country.(Photo: 12 News)

Michael Combs from California is making it his life's mission to not only pursue his dreams, but to encourage others to chase theirs. He's set multiple aviation records and he's attempting another one now.

"I don't try to get a lot of sleep, I try to make every day count," he told us in an interview via Skype Wednesday.

He's written several books, painted over 100 paintings, and has a love of aviation. This is after a life-changing event several years ago.

In the '90s, Combs was diagnosed with a weakened heart. Ten years later, his heart finally gave out.

"When my heart stopped twice in a matter of days, it was a real awakening for me," he told us.

He lay dead in a hospital for roughly five minutes before his heart started beating again. The experience was a revelation for him. He knew he had not been living to his fullest, but that was about to change.

"At that moment, I decided I was going to live my life with no regrets," he said. "And I think I'm staying pretty true to that word."

He earned his pilot's license in 2003, and since then has set five light sport aircraft world records, including being the first to fly one of the small, two-person aircraft in all 50 states. Today, he's working on his sixth record, the first cross-country flight in a light sport aircraft. His son, Daniel Routh, is accompanying him.

Michael Combs' light sport aircraft in flight.(Photo: Michael Combs)

"No one has ever set a record like this in a light sport aircraft," he said.

He landed in Chandler today for a quick refueling.

"The only thing we're looking at now is the weather," he said. "We had nice tail winds today, weather on the East Coast looks a little shaky, but once we've started we can't stop, we have to keep on going as far as we can."

But Combs didn't set out to break records. He only wanted to spread a message.

"My message to people is very simple: don't ever, ever give up," he said.

And weather permitting, this flight may inspire others to live their dreams.

This is Comb's third attempt at a cross-country flight. He's not rated to fly at night, so he will stay in the Dallas area tonight before making his way to South Carolina.